Minisink Valley's Behler 'touched' by support

SLATE HILL — The microphone belonged to John Behler last Friday night. Not just because he was the deejay for the benefit walk that took place at the Minisink Valley track.

KEVIN WITT

SLATE HILL — The microphone belonged to John Behler last Friday night. Not just because he was the deejay for the benefit walk that took place at the Minisink Valley track.

Behler was the reason 400 people or so were walking.

In May, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. It required surgery May 18 that cut short his senior baseball season at Minisink Valley. But when Behler spoke that night, he reminded you why his two of coaches said, "he's a kid who will run through a brick wall."

"Being at Minisink, we are all Warriors," Behler told the crowd, alluding to the school's sports nickname. "But cancer picked the wrong Warrior from the wrong community to mess with."

The community had a great night, raising more than $14,000. That will help Behler, who turns 18 on Saturday, cover the cost of an upcoming surgery on his lymph nodes.

"At first, it was a little overwhelming to see all those people and realize they were there for me," Behler said Thursday. "It just proved the support the community has shown is not stopping. It was special. It touched me, and it's something I'm never going to forget."

It was a chance for Behler to see some people he hadn't seen since graduation in June. It also gave them a chance to see him.

"A lot of people get a little scared or don't know what to expect," Behler said. "I feel great, and a lot of people said that I looked good. So it was good for them to see me in good spirits, so they wouldn't worry."

Behler said he undergoes chemotherapy because his blood tumor cancer markers were elevated, and kept rising. A CT scan revealed some enlarged lymph nodes. So there was fear the cancer was spreading.

His first series of four treatments cycles began June 28, the Monday after graduation. He goes five straight days, and then gets two weeks off. He's gone through this process twice, and his next run begins Monday.

Behler shaved his head, finishing the job the chemotherapy started. Baseball coach Dave Benedetto, himself a cancer survivor, did the honors — and then some. He and football coach Kevin Gallagher helped organize the walk. Behler played for Gallagher and was a 2009 Varsity845 second-team linebacker.

"Having gone through this, I've been able to share my experiences with John," Benedetto said. "He's been an inspiration to me and to others. His attitude has been great. His strength and courage for a 17-year-old is remarkable. We talk frequently, and I think that gives him a level of comfort."